Airport project bad for BVI Airways – Fahie

The government has been told that its planned extension of the runway at Terrence B Lettsome International Airports does not augur well for its investment of $7 million in BVI Airways.

The National Democratic Party administration said it invested in the privately owned airline on the premise that the carrier would provide direct service between the British Virgin Islands and Miami, United States.

If that happens soon, BVI Airways would be the only airline operating non-stop on the route.

At the same time, however, Government said it is extending the runway to facilitate large planes, including some that usually operate out of the United States.

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Fahie yesterday questioned the government’s reasoning, adding that the airport project will facilitate planes that will compete with BVI Airways.

“If they take that stand that they are going ahead with the airport project, then it is directly competing with BVI Airways. The question that I would ask: Why did we spend that money with them, given that we were going to expand the airport because our aim has to be that we want the bigger airlines to come in when its expanded – the American Airlines; the JetBlue, the Spirit, the Delta – all of them to come in. And, like every other country, you have to subsidize them anyhow.”

“So how could we now subsidize our own airline (BVI Airways) that we saying that we have this deal with, and turn around and subsidize them that competing with the airline that we have and the airport that we build. That is what you call a double negative,” the Opposition leader further told the House.